• Mangroves have been widely acknowledged as a coastal defence system, protecting against storm surges and mitigating damages caused by strong waves. Lee Hoagland / The National
    Mangroves have been widely acknowledged as a coastal defence system, protecting against storm surges and mitigating damages caused by strong waves. Lee Hoagland / The National
  • The Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative has conducted a financial feasibility assessment study on the monetary value of blue carbon and associated ecosystems in the emirate. Lee Hoagland / The National
    The Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative has conducted a financial feasibility assessment study on the monetary value of blue carbon and associated ecosystems in the emirate. Lee Hoagland / The National
  • About 30 per cent of the commercially important fish species use mangroves as a nursery, a marine biologist says. Lee Hoagland / The National
    About 30 per cent of the commercially important fish species use mangroves as a nursery, a marine biologist says. Lee Hoagland / The National
  • Mangroves are incredibly undervalued but so important, says marine biologist Arabella Willing. A bird's footprint in Abu Dhabi's mangrove. Lee Hoagland / The National
    Mangroves are incredibly undervalued but so important, says marine biologist Arabella Willing. A bird's footprint in Abu Dhabi's mangrove. Lee Hoagland / The National
  • Mangroves have been widely acknowledged as a coastal defence system, protecting against storm surges and mitigating damages caused by strong waves. Lee Hoagland / The National
    Mangroves have been widely acknowledged as a coastal defence system, protecting against storm surges and mitigating damages caused by strong waves. Lee Hoagland / The National
  • Students go on shore to learn more about the Abu Dhabi mangroves. Lee Hoagland / The National
    Students go on shore to learn more about the Abu Dhabi mangroves. Lee Hoagland / The National
  • An abandoned fisherman's hut at the Abu Dhabi mangrove shows visitors a relic from the past. Lee Hoagland / The National
    An abandoned fisherman's hut at the Abu Dhabi mangrove shows visitors a relic from the past. Lee Hoagland / The National
  • NYU Abu Dhabi marine biologist John Burt says mangroves were incredibly important from the carbon angle. Lee Hoagland / The National
    NYU Abu Dhabi marine biologist John Burt says mangroves were incredibly important from the carbon angle. Lee Hoagland / The National
  • Mangroves are incredibly undervalued but so important, says marine biologist Arabella Willing. A bird's footprint in Abu Dhabi's mangrove. Lee Hoagland / The National
    Mangroves are incredibly undervalued but so important, says marine biologist Arabella Willing. A bird's footprint in Abu Dhabi's mangrove. Lee Hoagland / The National
  • Mangroves are incredibly undervalued but so important, says marine biologist Arabella Willing. A bird's footprint in Abu Dhabi's mangrove. Lee Hoagland / The National
    Mangroves are incredibly undervalued but so important, says marine biologist Arabella Willing. A bird's footprint in Abu Dhabi's mangrove. Lee Hoagland / The National
  • The mangroves in Abu Dhabi span 77 square kilometres – about the area of the Palm Islands in Dubai – covering 547 kilometres of the emirate’s coastline. Lee Hoagland / The National
    The mangroves in Abu Dhabi span 77 square kilometres – about the area of the Palm Islands in Dubai – covering 547 kilometres of the emirate’s coastline. Lee Hoagland / The National

Business

Lungs of Abu Dhabi is a billion-dollar ecosystem — in pictures

Liz Claus

December 22, 2014

  • English
  • Arabic

If the environment and its resources were a quantifiable commodity, the “Lungs of Abu Dhabi” – its marine life including mangroves – could help contribute as much as $2.63 billion to the emirate’s economy.

TechnologyEconomyAbu Dhabi